Year 9 Options The Diploma

1
Year 9 Options The Diploma

• A new national qualification for
• 14-19 year olds

2
What is a Diploma?

• Its a new national qualification for 14-19 year
  olds
• Diplomas started in 2008 in Y10 with options in
  Creative Media, Engineering and IT
• Four more are offered this year in Construction,
  Business Administration and Finance, Hair
  Beauty, Hospitality Catering
• They teach you about an area of work you are
  interested in
• You get a mix of class work and hands on
  experience
• They prepare you for work or further study

3
Why would you do a Diploma?

• You can learn in new ways and other places for
  example in a workshop, business, another school
  or college
• You will do lots of problem solving and project
  work
• Employers help plan and deliver the programme
• You can do the Diploma on two days alongside your
  other Y10 subjects

4
The Diploma Programme

• The Diploma is made up of several parts
• Principal learning - your chosen Diploma subject
• Additional and Specialist Learning options that
  give you additional qualifications related to
  your Diploma subject e.g. GCSE or BTEC
  qualifications
• Personal, learning and thinking skills skills
  you develop by taking the course
• A Project assessed work in an area that
  interests you
• Work experience all Diploma students are
  required to complete 10 days work experience
• Functional skills Diploma students need to
  achieve a satisfactory standard in English, Maths
  and IT

5
What levels are there?

• You can study a Diploma at two levels at Key
  Stage 4 Foundation level and Higher level
• Not all Diploma lines offer Foundation level at
  this time
• The Foundation Diploma is the same as 5 GCSEs at
  grades D to G
• The Higher Diploma is the same as 7 GCSEs at
  grades A to C
• Both Foundation and Higher Diplomas are two year
  courses
• Both Foundation and Higher Diplomas take 2 days a
  week the other 3 days allow access to core
  national curriculum subjects and GCSEs

6
How is Diploma teaching organised?

• Diploma teaching uses the best facilities and
  resources to provide relevant, real life
  education
• You might spend time at another local school/
  college
• Diploma students will work in industry, business
  and the community
• There is free transport between centres
• All Diploma students have a free uniform -
  sweatshirt and polo shirts

7
What do I do next?

• For further information about each Diploma line
  ask your
• School/College
• Each Diploma has arranged or is arranging a
  taster event to give
• you a Diploma experience
• Collect a Diploma application form, complete it
  and return to your
• School/College by Thursday, 12 February

8
Diploma Applications

• Collect an application form from your school/
  college or download it from
• www.forwardconsortium.org.uk
• Return the completed form to your school or
  college by Thursday, 12 February
• All students will be interviewed by Diploma staff
  for entry to the course
• Diploma places are limited - therefore apply by
  the deadline